Combined generator and lighter for oil heaters



M y 1945 J. 5. HODGES 2,375,471

I COMBINED GENERATOR AND LIGHTER FOR OIL HEATER Filed Dec. 24, 1942 dbH/v .SlH'ooess,

IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 8, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT QF C 2,375,471 y COMBINED GENERATOR mn monrsaroa a OIL HEATERS ohn S}, Hodges, Riverside, Calif. mums December 24,1942, seriaiNo.470,020

Claims.

This invention relates to a combined generator and lighter foroil heaters-and may be regarded as an improvement over the disclosure made in my copending' application Serial No. 434,'512, filed March '13, 1942, now Patent No. 2,368,469.

U'-shaped conduit adapted to be positioned in the oil of the heater with one end of the conduit extending downwardly from above thenormal oil level and the other end of the conduit extending upwardly above the normal oillevel toward the combustion zone; whereby heated gases and vapors will be drawn through the conduit down into the oilto effectively heat it, I v

Another object of theinvention is to provide a generator having the above-mentioned characteristics wherein the conduit? is equipped with a mass of refractory material thatcontributes to the heating of the oil and which functions somewhat inthe natu'reof a. wick that will facilitate starting of the heater. i j l j l With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest; in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to'the accompanying drawing for an illustrative" embodiment of the invention, wherein: t

' Figure 1 is a top plan view of an oil heater illustrating the combined generator andlighter in applied position therein; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the heater, taken substantially upon the line 2-4 uponFig. 1 in the direction indicated; a A i Fig; 3 is a sectional view through the combined generator and lighter taken substantially upon the line 3-3 upon Fig. 2 in the directionindicated Referring to the accompanying drawingwherein similar reference charactersdesignate similar parts throughout, the heater in which the combined generator and lighter may be used may vary considerably. A conventional type of construction is illustratedhowever consisting of a base or receptacle I0 adapted to contain an adequate supply of fuel oil II which, when the heater is initially filled, rises to the normal level indicated. A cover I2 is positioned thereon having a, central the present invention comprisesa U-shaped conduit which may be formed of conventional pipe sections. and fittings, one leg or the conduit being indicated at 1.5, which extends downwardlyfrom aboveflthei normal level of the oil II. This. pipe section is connected such as by anelbow It to a horizontally disposed nipple I1 which, in turn, is connected by an elbow [8 to an upstanding pipe section [9- which provides the other leg of the U- shaped conduit. .This section is preferably pro vided with a threaded coup1ing 20.- Which detachably connects a nipple or short length of pipe 21 to the pipe 1Q. Thus,v the upwardlyextending leg of the U-shaped conduit is somewhat longer than the downwardly extending leg thereof and extends upwardly into the throat l3 of. the cover toward the combustion zone. j

Within the crotch of the U-shaped conduit there is positioned a mass of porous refractory material 22 which projects upwardly above the normal level of the oil and which is held in position, such as by a clamp or bracket 23. clamp orbracket maybe formed in several man vners, but, one simplified form of construction is to fractory material 22,

mass. of porous refractory material 22 may be a common unglazed building brick althoughother materials may be substituted therefor if desired.

The. overall width of the combined generator and lighter is preferably slightly smaller than the diameter of the throat 13 so that it is possible to insert the device into the heater through the throat without removing the cover l2; When so throat l3 on which the stack of the heater is normally positioned, In the cover there is an opening for a hinged damper I4 which can be adjusted to regulate the amount or air that is admitted to the interior of the cover over the surface of the oil and thus adjust the rate of burning.

The combined generator and lighter embodying inserted the upstanding leg of the U-shaped conduit is positioned centrally of the throat and a projecting corner. of the brick 22 is positioned so as to be readily accessible throughthe opening that is covered by the adjustable damper I4,

In lighting the heater a small quantity of gasoline or other highly volatile and readily combustible fluid is poured through the opening normally covered by the damper l4 onto thetop of the brick 22. This gasoline is quickly absorbed by the brick due toits porosity. It is then lighted and functions somewhat in the nature of a wick heating For purposes ofsimpli-city and cheapness the that rise from its surface. l starts to burn'the vapors rising fromits surface, 1 are partially burned beneath the cover I2 and a draft is soon created through the U-shaped con- 1 duit so that these partially burning and heated va pors are drawn downwardly through the U-shap- 1 5 ed conduit to cause the body of the oil II to be i effectively heated. Then all .of, the .vapors that 3 Q are burning beneath the cover l 2 are drawn down-. 1 wardly through the U-shaped conduit. Some of e 3 these vapors rise directly through the throat l3. However, a suflicient fraction of the vapors are carried through the oil by the conduit so that the i oil is adequately heated thereby to bring about a 1 clean and virtually smokeless combustion.

and causing to be ignitedvapors of the fuel oil that after this initial gasoline has been burned I When the fuel oil I find that when a, heater is equipped with a combined generator and lighter embodying the present invention that the efficiency of the heater is materially increased. That is, the same amount i of heat is given off with a lower consumption of 1 j oil. i I find also that the construction'is'advantageous inextinguishing the flame in that if the supply of air admitted throughathe damper I4 is 1' completely out off the flame within the heater will normallyextinguish itself in approximately one minute, Apparently under these'circumstances, the brick functions to localize the flame thereon 1 and as the available oxygen beneath the cover l2 1 is used upthe remaining flame on the brick extinguishes itself. I Inasmuch as the nipple or pipe section 2| leads to and is closely adjacent the major combustion zone, this portion of the conduit isapt to become burned and corroded with continued usage.

However, as it is detachably connected by means of the coupling 20, this portion of the conduit can be readily removed and replaced whenever occa- 1 j'sion requires.

1 with any-stack whatsoeverand if desired, any

It is'not essential that the cover I 2 be equipped 1 preferred form of s'tack' can be used thereon. Howeven I prefer to mounton the cover a, short j, stack section 24 which is suitably perforated as 1 indicated at 25 and which carries a, downwardly extending conical hood 26.- Over-this'short stack section any 'conventionaltypeof stack indicated at 21' may be mounted if desired. The perforaj tions'25 admit external air tothe major combustion zone and the products of combustion ascend wthrough the stack 2'! when this is present. 7

From the above-described construction it will i be appreciated'that the improved combinedgenf erator and lighter is inexpensive and is quitesim- 1 ple in its construction. It may beinstalled in any conventional type of oil heater, now-in' general 7 the flame tends to go out. With the present construction if the gasoline is poured onto the projecting portion of the brick 22 and is ignited inasmuch as the brick functions somewhat in the nature of a wick, the lighting of the heater and the starting of the burning of the fuel oil is assured in allinstances. Furthermore, when itis desired to extinguishthe flame this is likewise readily accomplished with certainty by merely shutting off the air supply afiorded through the damper l4,

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

' shaped bracket mountedon said conduit at the. crotch thereof,- and a porous'brick supportedin' the crotch of the conduit within-the bracket.

2,. A combined generator and lighter for oilheaters comprising means providing a, .U -shaped .con duit adapted to be positioned. in,the oil. of the heaterso as to extend downwardly from abovethe normal oil level, and then upwardlyabove, the

oil level toward the combustion zone, aiU -.shaped bracket mounted on said conduit at the crotch thereof, and a porous brick supported in the crotch of the conduit within the bracket, said bracket projecting above the normaloil lever.

- 3, A combined generator. and lighter j for oil heaters comprising means providing a U-shaped conduit adapted to be positioned in the oilof the heater so as to extenddownwardly from above the normal oil level and thenupwardly abovetheoil level toward the combustion zone,v a ,U -shaped bracket .mounted on said conduit at the :crotch thereof, a, porous brick supported in the crotchof the conduit'within the bracket, said bracket projecting abovethenormal oil level, and the top of the upwardly extending portion of the conduit ing removable and replaceable.

4. A generator for oil heaters and the like prising means providing a .U shaped conduit the upstanding sides of which'are of unequallength and means providing a Wick supported on the conduit, the wick and the shorterarm' beingv adapted to extend above the level toiwhich' the oil is normally filled in the heater..

5. A generator for oil heaters and the like com.-

prising means providing a, U shaped conduit the sides of which are of unequal length and a, porous brick supported on the conduit between said un-' equal sides, the wick and shorter side being arrangedto project upwardly above the level to,

com,- 

